NEW YORK -- The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) search for Filipina beauties in the Greater New York region’s large Filipino and Filipino-American community got its first beauty for the year 2016 - the Mrs. Kalayaan emerged victorious among six contestants - and the winner of the PIDCI Mrs. Kalayaan 2016 title is Mrs. Dhelma Lopez.

Lopez will be crowned at PIDCI’s posh Mrs. Kalayaan Coronation Pageant and Gala at the Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens, New York Sunday, April 17, 2016 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.